New research shows that 1.1 million international students at US colleges and universities contributed $43.8bn to the US economy during the 2023/24 academic year and supported more than 378,000 jobs.

Their total economic activity has reached an all-time high, surpassing the previous record of $41bn set in the 2018/19 academic year.

“International students’ contributions to the US are significant and multi-faceted, and this year’s record-breaking economic total is the latest proof of that,” said Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and CEO.

The research, from NAFSA and and JB International, found that for every three international students, one US job is created or supported – a figure that remains the same compared to last year.

The five states that saw the largest amount of economic activity also stayed the same – California, New York, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois.

Meanwhile, a record number of states – 12 – broke the $1bn mark, an increase from nine states last year. International student spending in those 12 states combined to generate 57% of the total dollar contribution to the US economy.

Elsewhere, the data found that international students enrolled in US college and university English language programs contributed $371.3m to the economy – an increase of 0.4% from last year’s figure. These students supported 2,691 jobs.

However, the research showed the annual percent increase for international students’ country-wide contribution lags behind last year’s rise, which NAFSA said signals a need for proactive US policies and practices to welcome a diverse community of international students.

“We cannot be complacent,” said Aw.

“The annual increase in economic activity is about half of what it was the year before, signalling that the pent-up demand for a US education following the pandemic is subsiding. Meanwhile, competition for the world’s best and brightest is increasing.”

Currently, international students make up just over 6% of higher education enrolment in the US – a figure that could double and institutions would still have ample capacity.

The US must adopt more proactive policies to attract and retain global talent
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“The US must adopt more proactive policies to attract and retain global talent. We cannot afford to lose international students’ meaningful positive impact on American students’ global competence, our economies, and our communities, particularly in the areas of STEM-related research and innovation,” said Aw.

NAFSA is lobbying for the expansion of dual intent so that international students no longer have to prove they have no interest in working in the US after graduation in order to receive a student visa and creating a pathway to a green card for international student graduates of a US higher education institution. 

Through the US for Success Coalition, stakeholders, including NAFSA, are working to advance policies and practices that would increase and diversify the community of international students choosing the US for study, research, and work.

Open doors data, released earlier this week, revealed that US institutions hosted over 1.1m international students in 2023/24, revealing a 7% increase in international student numbers on the previous year.

For the first year since 2009, India overtook China as the top sending country, seeing 331,602 Indian students pursuing higher education in the US, a 35% increase on the previous year.